corbin hct-1 User Guide

Hand Cannelure Tool

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HCT-1

Cannelure

Depth Stop

Position Adjusting
Screw

Padded Handle

The Corbin Hand Cannelure Tool creates cannelures

(serrated grooves) on lead or jacketed bullets from .224
to .458 caliber. The tool has a positive stop for control
of the cannelure depth, but can also be operated by
"feel" with good results. Position of the cannelure can
be set by a base-touching stop screw on the side of the
tool.

Base

Mount the tool on your bench top, so that the crank handle is free to turn

Horizontal
Roller V-Way

Crank
Handle

over the edge of the bench. Two mounting holes through the base allow

the use of number 10 wood or metal screws. The tool will not give

satisfactory results if held by hand; mounting is required.

Place a bullet to be cannelured so that the base of the bullet touches the position
adjusting screw located directly between the two steel rollers, on the side of the tool base. Adjust the screw so that
the cannelure wheel contacts the bullet at the desired position. If this position cannot be attained, the cannelure
wheel itself may be moved on its shaft by loosening the set screw in the wheel hub and relocating the wheel. Close
the top (handle) section of the tool, and adjust the depth screw so that the cannelure wheel contacts the bullet. Turn
the crank two full turns while pressing down firmly on the padded handle. Open the tool and note the depth of the
cannelure groove. Adjust the depth screw to give a cannelure depth such that there is a visible circle at top and
bottom of the serrations (that is, a complete depression or groove is put into the bullet, not just a series of vertical
lines). Don't go deeper than approximately .015 inches: this displaces too much internal core material.

Operating and Maintenance Notes:

The HCT-1 is most effective when the depth of the
cannelure is held to a minimum which will still allow the
desired grip of the bullet to the case. Excessive depth of
cannelure should be avoided: most cannelure problems
can be traced to an attempt to make too deep a groove.
A drop of oil is required on both sides of the top frame,
where the crank shaft passes through the bearings. These
two points should be oiled before each use. With proper
lubrication, the tool should give many years of service.

Canneluring steel or heavy brass jacketed bullets is
not recommended: instead, use the Corbin PCM-1
Power Cannelure Machine. The HCT-1 is intended to be
an economical tool for home bullet making, a few hun­dred bullets per day. The PCM-1 is intended for heavy
duty commercial use, with 100 bullet per minute capabil­ity. The HCT-1 is not intended or warrantied for com­mercial volume operation.

If the bullet tends to jump out of the roller V-way,
reverse the direction that you turn the cannelure crank.
This is more likely to happen with bullets near the
maximum diameter (.458 caliber). Keep the cannelure
wheel set screw snug on the flat area machined on the
crank shaft.

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Special Features...

1. Comfortable padded handle, Easy operation.

2. Positive depth stop, Accurate cannelure depth.

3. Horizontal V-way rollers, No bullet "creep".

4. Positive position stop, Accurate position.

5. Heavy-duty crankshaft bearings, Long life.

6. Adjustable from .224 to .458 automatically.

Note: The HCT-1 can be used for canneluring straight cases
such as the .45 ACP and the .38 or .357 Magnum, to prevent
the bullet form sliding back into the case during feeding in an
auto-loading pistol. It cannot be used to cannelure a bottle­necked or tapered case. It is not recommended for lead
bullets: use the HCT-2 or HCT-3 lead grooving or knurling
tools for lubrication grooves on lead slugs.